Will Kidney Failure Cause Leg Cramp

2013-06-13 11:41

Will kidney failure cause leg cramp? Kidney Failure patients run high risk for various discomforts, so when leg cramp occurs, they’d like to know if it is related with their kidney problem and if yes, how to alleviate it.

Will kidney failure cause leg cramp?

Leg cramp also can be called charley horses and refers to the involuntary muscle contractions that occur in the calves or soles of the feet. Kidney Failure can be a cause of leg cramp, but it is not the only cause in clinic. Here, we will mainly explain how kidney failure cause leg cramp.

In kidney failure, one of the cause for leg cramp is thought to be fluid imbalance and electrolyte imbalance like low calcium and low potassium which can cause leg cramp directly. Kidney is the organ that helps to excrete excess fluid, mineral substances and thus maintain balance of fluid and electrolyte. Failed kidneys can not function properly, leading to the imbalance of fluid and electrolyte.

Another possible cause for leg cramp in kidney failure is nerve damage. Kidney is responsible for discharging wastes out of the blood. When kidneys are damaged, wastes build up in blood and this may cause damage on nerve system.

How to alleviate leg cramp with kidney failure?

For kidney failure patients with leg cramp, they need to firstly found out the root cause of it and then take corresponding measures. (Leave the illness condition here and our experts can help you figure out the root cause with free of charge)

Leg cramp caused by kidney failure can not be solved overnight, so the following tips can be adopted to alleviate it:

1. Have a hot shower before going to bed at night and this will help to improve blood circulation, which can help to reduce the incidence of leg cramp to some extent.

2. Having regular and mild leg activities

3. Avoid wearing tight trousers and shoes

4. Massage or stretch leg muscles when leg cramps occur.

5. Avoid drastic physical activities in day as it also increase the risk for leg cramp

Though kidney failure can cause leg cramp, it is not the only cause. Kidney failure patients may suffer from leg cramp due to other conditions like improper usage of some medications. Therefore, founding out the root cause firstly is very essential for alleviating leg cramps radically.